Table leg mounting bracket and latch structure therefor



C. O. LARSON Nov. 6, 1956 TABLE LEG MOUNTING BRACKET AND LATCH STRUCTURETHEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 18, 1955 &

away 0f%07z Jami C. O. LARSON TABLE LEG MOUNTING BRACKET AND LATCHSTRUCTURE THEREFOR Filed Feb. 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. J4Carrka @[amwz %m) United States Patent TABLE LEG MGUNTIN G BRACKET ANDLATCH STRUCTURE THEREFOR Charles 0. Larson, Sterling, Ill; ApplicationFebruary 18, 1953, Serial No. 337,509 6 Claims. (Cl. 287.14)

The present invention relates to a novel folding leg and bracketstructure adapted to be connected with the under surface of a flatsupport such as a table top, and more particularly to a novel foldingleg and bracket structure constructed in a manner so that a leg may befolded to move from a vertical supporting position to a folded positionagainst the inner surface of the support or table top.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel structure ofthe above described type whereby a leg may be securely locked in eithera supporting or folding position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel structureof the above described type whereby the leg may be folded from thevertical supporting position to a position against the under surface ofthe table top and securely locked in either of said positions withoutneed for manipulating any clamping means.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novelstructure of the above described type whereby the leg in the supportingposition may be adjusted to compensate for uneven floors or the likewhile still being securely locked in said supporting position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description and the accompanying drawingswherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken 22 of Figure 1;

Figures 3 through 6 are fragmentary side elevational views illustratingthe operation of the novel folding leg structure of this invention;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a blank used to form the novel bracket shownin Figures 1 through 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing another form of the novelstructure of this invention;

Figure 9 is a vertical cross section taken along the line 9-9 of Figure8;

Figures 10 through 12 are fragmentary side elevational views showing theoperation of the structure illustrated in Figure 8;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing how the leg maybe adjusted to compensate for uneven floors or the like; and

Figure 14 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken along theline 1414 of Figure 13.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts aredesignated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, oneembodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1 through 7 andincludes a bracket 16 and a leg 18.

The bracket 16 is preferably constructed from the integral sheet metalblank 20 shown in Figure 7. The

along the line blank is folded to provide the bracket with a pairofspaced vertically disposed side plates 22 and 24 which are adapted toreceive the leg therebetween. One vertical 2,769,650 Patented Nov. 6,1955 end of the bracket remains open while the opposite vertical end isclosed by the end wall 26 joining the side plates along their adjacentvertically disposed edges. A mounting flange 28 extends horizontallyfrom the upper edge of the side plate 22 and a similar mounting flange30 extends horizontally from the upper edge of the side plate 24. Thesemounting flanges are provided with a plurality of apertures forreceiving screws or the like 32 whereby the bracket may be mounteddirectly to the under surface of a flat support such as a table top 34..

Each of the side plates is provided with a generally centrally locatedslot having an upper vertical slot portion 36., and a lower slot portion38 extending diagonally downwardly away from the closed end of thebracket. It will be, appreciated that when the blank 20 shown in Figure7 i olded to form the bracket the slot portions 36; and 38 in each sideplate will align with each other. Each of the side plates is providedwith a second slot 40 which is vertically disposed and opens at thebottom edge of the side plate. In addition, each side plate is providedwith an enlarged or cut-away portion at the bottom h eof an at the op sie f th ack t, w h basal r cu -a y po o is ed t p o ide a e tic l y diposed edg 2- ds 4 is j e t s up end by a horizontally disposed edge 43which servesas an upper stopwhen leg 18 is in the folded position asshown in Fig. 6. It will be understood that when the blank is fo ded.int ils final rm the slots 40 will alig wi h each other and the verticaledges 42 will likewise align with each ot er- As shown best in Figure 2a bolt or pin 44 extends through the leg 18 and into the slot providedby slot portions 36 and 38 A wing nut 46 is threaded on the end of thebolt for the purpose to be described hereinbelow. A' second bolt or pin48 extends through the leg and is positioned to enter the slots 40 whenthe leg is in the vertical supporting position or lie along edge 42 andedge 33 when the leg is in its folded position. A wing nut 50 may alsobe provided for this bolt if desired.

Referring particularly to Figure 3 it is seen that when the leg 18 is inits vertical supporting position the upper flat end of the leg 18 isdisposed in the common plane of the mounting flanges 28 and 30 and henceabuts the under surface of the table top 34.

It should be further noted that the bolt or pin 44 is positioned in theleg an equal distance from the flat upper end of the leg and from theouter vertical edge 52 of the leg 15 so that this edge 52 abuts the endwall 26 of the bracket, Furthermore, the bolt 44 is spaced from theother longitudinal vertical edge 54 of leg 13 the same distance as fromthe flat top surface of the leg 18 so that when the leg is in its foldedposition (shown in Fig. 6 the edge 54 abuts the under surface of thetable top the end wall 26 of the and the flat top of the leg abutsbracket. By this particular arrangement of the bolt 44 the leg is lockedagainst pivotal movement when in either the open supporting position orthe folded position.

Inorder to insure that the leg is securely locked in the desiredposition the bolt or pin 48 is positioned so that it enters the slots 40in the side plates of the bracket when the leg is in the open supportingposition, and the bolt 48 engages the vertical edges 42 of the notchesin the side plates and abuts against the horizontal edge 43 when the legis in the folded position. In order to accomplish this it will beunderstood that the vertical edges 42 and the edges of the slots 40 arespaced from the vertical center lines of the slot portions 36substantially equal distances. The folding leg structure described abovemay be operated as follows: with the leg in the position shown in Figure3, a downward pulling action causes the leg to move downwardly until thepin 44 enters the diagonal lower slot portion 38, at which time the bolt48 will emerge from the slots 40. It should be noted that the lengths ofthe slot portions 36 and the slots 40 are sufficient to space the flattop of the leg from the under surface of the table top whereby the legmay be pivoted wihout interference from the table top. After the leg hasbeen moved downwardly as described, further movement causes the bolt 44to slide down the diagonal solt portions 38 until the leg is spacedsufficiently from the end wall 26 of the bracket to permit the leg to befolded to a position substantially parallel with the table top. The legis then advanced toward the under surface of the table top and thisaction causes the bolt 44 to reenter the vertical slot portions 36 andthe bolt 48 to engage the vertical edges 42, as shown in Figure 6. Ineither the supporting or folded position the leg is securely lockedagainst pivotal movement by engagement of the leg with the table top andbracket end wall and by engagement of the bolt 48 with either the edgesof the slots 40 or the edges 42 and 43. If desired, the wing nuts 46 and50 may be tightened to clamp the side plates against the leg. However,it is found that with the novel arrangement described herein it isunnecessary to tighten the wing nuts in order to lockv the leg in thedesired position.

Referring now to the embodiment of the present invention shown inFigures 8 through 14, it will be seen that a bracket 56 has beenprovided having spaced side plates 58 and 60 adapted to receive theupper end'portion of the leg 62 therebetween. Mounting flanges 64 and 66extend horizontally from the upper edges of'the side plates for securingthe bracket to the under surface of the table top or the like 34. It isunderstood, of course, that suitable means such as screws 68 passingthrough apertures in the flanges 64 and 66 may be used to mount thebracket to the table top.

The side plate 58 is provided with a pair of vertically disposed andvertically aligned elongated slots 74 and 76. Similarly the plate 60 isprovided with an elongated slot 70 which aligns with the slot 74 inplate 58, and a second elongated slot 72 which aligns with the slot 76in plate 58 when the plates are assembled on leg 62. As shown in Fig. 9,a bolt 78 extends through an aperture in the'leg 62 and into the alignedslots 70 and 74 and a second bolt 80 extends through an aperture in theleg 62 "and into the aligned slots 72 and 76.

As shown best in Figures and 12, the upper bolt 78 is spaced an equaldistance from the upper fiat edge or top 'of the leg 62 and from thevertical or longitudinal extending edge 82 of the leg whereby the top ofthe leg abuts the under surface of the table top when the leg is in theopen position and the edge 82 of the leg abuts the under surface of thetable top when the leg is in its folded position as shown in Fig. 12.The upper ends of the slots 70 and 74 are positioned to permit the legto be moved against the under surface of the table top in the mannerdescribed. When the leg is in the open position, the lower bolt 80enters the slots 72 and 76 and locks the leg against pivotal movement.

When the leg 62 is to be moved from the open position, shown in Figure10, to the folded position, shown in Figure 12, it is first pulleddownwardly until the bolt 78 rests on the bottoms of the slots 70 and 74as shown in Figure 11. It should be noted that the length of the slots70 and 74 is sufficient to permit the bolt 80 to emerge from the bottomsof the slots 72 and 76 as shown in Figure 11. In order to permit the legto be folded, the bottoms of the side plates are rounded as shown. Theradius 84 of the rounded bottoms of the side plates (see Fig. 11) issubstantially equal to the distance between the center of the bolt 78and the nearest edge of the bolt 80 so that as the leg is pivoted, thebolt 80 rides along the curved bottom edge of the side plates. Thecurved bottom edges of the side plates 58 and 60 merge with the verticaledges 86 and 88 which are spaced from the vertical center line of theplates a distance substantially equal to the above mentioned radius 84so that the leg will be locked in a folded position substantiallyparallel to the under surface of the table top by engagement of the boltwith one of these vertical edges as shown in Figure 12. Preferably thevertical edges 86 and 88 (see Fig. 11) merge with notches 90 and 92 (seeFig. 12) in the side plates. These notches 90 and 92 limit the upw-ardmovement of the leg. It will be understood that by forming the sideplates in the manner shown a single structure is provided which willenable the leg to be pivoted either toward the right or toward the leftas desired.

In cases where the novel leg and bracket structure of this invention isused to support a table it will be understood that any desired number ofbrackets and legs may be secured to the under surface of the table top.In many cases where a plurality of legs are used to support a table topit is found that uneven floors cause one leg to be suspended whereby anunstable support is obtained. With the novel structure of this inventionthe effective length of the legs may be adjusted in the manner shown inFigures 13 and 14. In order to adjust the length of a leg it is merelynecessary to pull the leg downwardly until its top is spaced from theunder surface of the table. The leg may then be locked in position bytightening down on wing nuts 94 and 96 (see Fig. 9) threaded onto theends of the bolts 78 and 80. If desired a spacing block 98 may beinserted between the under surface of the table top and the top end ofthe leg so that the load on the table is transmitted directly to theleg. The various slots in the side plates 58 and 60 are formed longenough to permit this adjustment of length. It should beparticularlynoted that the slots 72 and 76 are formed long enough so that the bolt80 remains therein to lock the leg against pivotal movement even afterthe leg has been spaced downwardly from the table top as shown in Figures 13 and 14. While the adjustment of the length of the leg has beendescribed with particular reference to the embodiment of this inventionshown in Figures 8 and 9 it will be understood that the same adjustmentmay be made with the leg shown in the embodiment of Figures 1 through 7.V

From the above description it will be noted that the present inventionhas provided a novel combination bracket and leg structure which is ofsimple construc= tion and may be easily and economically manufactured.In addition, it is seen that this novel structure provides a foldableleg which is securely locked against pivotal movement without the needfor tightening down on the wing nuts on the bolts. Furthermore, it isseen that with the novel structure of this invention the legs may beadjusted for different lengths while at the same time being securelylocked against pivotal movement.

While two preferred embodiments of the presentinvention have been shownand described, it is obvious that numerous structural details may bechanged in the illustrated structures without departing from the spiritand scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination a bracket having a pair of spaced side plates adaptedto be attached to a planar support to extend normally thereto, means forsecuring said side plates to theunder surface of said support, a leghaving an upper end portion shaped to be slidably disposed between saidspaced side plates, each of said side plates having vertically disposedelongated closed slots formed therein and disposed normal to the planeof said support, said closed slots being formed centrally of the lateralmarginal edges of each of said plates, each plate having an additionalelongated open slot spaced from and disposed in line with the closedslot of each of said plates, said open slots of each plate having theouter ends opening onto the lower marginal edge of each of said plates,a pair of spaced bolts normally,

disposed in said aligned closed and openslots, said bolts passingthrough theupper central portion of said legand being spaced" apart suchthat when the upper bolt isat the upper end of the upper closed slot thelower bolt will be atthe upper end of the lower open slot and when theupper bolt is at thelower end-of its slot, the lower bolt will bedisposed wholly beyond the open end of the lower open slot, and thelower walls of each plate beginning with the outer open end of said openslrots curving arcuael y outwardly in opposite directions from eachadjacent wall of said open end of said open slot and then extendingsubstantially parallel to and directed away from said open slot towardthe opposite end of said plate and forming on opposite marginal sides ofsaid plate in equally spaced relation from the walls of said closedslots a pair of notches spaced laterally and equally from and in linewith the upper end of said closed slots, said notches being open attheir bottom portions and in position to receive the lower bolt therein.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the boltshas one end provided with a head overlying the marginal Walls of theassociated slot and notches with which said bolt cooperates, theopposite end of each of said bolts being threaded, and fastening meansengaging said threaded ends and pressing against the marginal walls ofthe associated slots and notches.

3. In combination a planar support, a leg to be pivotally fastenedthereto, a pair of sheet metal plates having their upper ends bentnormally to the remainder of said plates and having means for attachmentin spaced relation to the underside of said planar support whereby themain portions of said sheet metal plates are spaced apart a distancesubstantially equal to the thickness of said leg, each of said parallelspaced apart portions of said sheet metal plates being formed to providecentrally and longitudinally thereof a pair of slots comprising an innerclosed elongated slot and an outer open ended slot, the open ended slotbeing spaced from and aligned with the closed slot, the outer edges ofsaid open ended slot curving outwardly oppositely in arcuate fashion andthence in a direction parallel with and spaced from a longitudinal axispassing centrally through said aligned slots, and said marginal parallelportions of each of said plates terminating opposite and aligned withthe innermost end of said elongated closed slots and providing thereat apair of spaced notches on opposite sides of said plate and equidistantlydisposed from the longitudinal axes of said aligned slots, said leghaving a pair of holes centrally therethrough spaced apart the distancebetween the inner ends of said closed and said open ended slots, a pairof elongated bolts extending through said open ended slots and saidclosed slots and through said holes, said bolts at one end beingprovided with heads having a greater diameter then said slots and theother end thereof being threaded, and fasteners threaded on said bolts.

4. A bracket for use with a support member having an under surface and afolding leg comprising a pair of spaced apart plates, means for securingsaid plates to the under surface of the support member with the platesdisposed substantially perpendicular to the under surface, said platesbeing positioned to receive therebetween the upper end of the leg, each'of said plates having an elongated closed slot formed therein having atleast a portion thereof disposed perpendicular to the under surface ofthe support member, said closed slots receiving a first bolt passingtherethrough and through an aperture in the leg, each of said plateshaving an elongated open slot communicating with an edge thereofdisposed away from the support member, the longitudinal axis of saidopen slots being disposed perpendicular to said under surface andaligned with the longitudinal axis of said portions of said closedslots, said open slots receiving a second bolt passing therethrough andthrough an aperture in the leg when the leg is in the extendedsupporting position; each of said plates having atnotch formed on oneside thereof; saidnotches each including an edge disposed perpendicularto theunder' surface of the sup port member and an edge disposedparallel to the under surface of said support member, said first boltbeing disposed at the ends of said closed slotsdisposed toward the undersurface and said second bolt being disposed atthe ends of said openslots disposedtoward the under surface when the leg is inoperativesupporting position, said first bolt and said second bolt beingmovable away from the under surfacein their respective slots until saidsecond bolt emerges from said open slots whereby to permit said leg tobe moved to a folded position touching and underlying the under surfacewith the longitudinal axis of the leg substantially parallel to theunder surface, said first bolt being disposed at the end of said closedslots disposed toward the under surface and the second b'olt beingdisposed at the junction of the edges of said notches when the leg is inthe folded inoperative position.

5. A bracket for use with a support member having an under surface and afolding leg comprising a pair of spaced side plates, means for securingsaid side plates to the under surface of the support member with theplates disposed substantially perpendicular to the under surface, saidplates being positioned to receive therebetween the upper ends of theleg, each of said side plates having vertically disposed elongatedclosed slots formed therein and disposed normal to the plane of saidsupport, said closed slots being formed centrally of the lateralmarginal edges of each of said plates, each plate having an additionalelongated open slot spaced from and disposed in line with the closedslot of each of said plates, said open slots of each plate having theouter ends opening onto the lower marginal edge of each of said plates,said aligned closed and open slots being adapted to receive a pair ofspaced bolts passing through said plate and spaced apart such that whenthe upper bolt is at the upper end of the closed slot the lower boltwill be at the upper end of the lower open slot and when the upper boltis at the lower end of its slot the lower bolt will be disposed whollybeyond the open end of the lower open slot, and the lower wall of eachplate beginning with the outer open end of said open slots curvingarcuately outwardly in opposite directions from each adjacent wall ofsaid open end of said open slot and then extending substantiallyparallel to and directed away from said open slot toward the oppositeend of said plate and forming on opposite marginal sides of said platein equally spaced relation from the walls of said closed slots a pair ofnotches spaced laterally and equally from and in line with the upper endof said closed slots, said notches being open at their lower portionsand in position to receive a lower bolt therein.

6. A bracket for use with a support member having an under surface and afolding leg, comprising a pair of sheet metal plates having the upperends. bent normally to said plates and having means for attachment inspaced relation to the under surface whereby the main portions of saidmetal plates are spaced apart a distance substantially to the thicknessof the leg, each of said parallel spaced apart portions of said sheetmetal plates being formed to provide centrally and longitudinallythereof a pair of slots comprising an inner closed elongated slot and anouter open ended slot, the open ended slot being spaced from and alignedwith the closed slot, the outer edges of said open ended slots curvingoutwardly oppositely in arcuate fashion and thence in a directionparallel with and spaced from a longitudinal axis passing centrallythrough said aligned slots, and said marginal parallel portions of eachof said plates terminating opposite and aligned with the innermost ofsaid elongated closed slots and providing thereat a pair of spacednotches on opposite sides of said plate and equidistantly disposed'closed and said open ended slots and adapted to receive a pair ofelongated bolts extending through said open 5 ended slots and saidclosed slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS LovellMar. 11, 1873 Erdman Dec. 15, 1914 Kromendy June 27, 1916 Bauer Aug. 25,1931 Harman Apr. 26,1932 Mitchell June 4, 1935 Ralson May 28, 19 40Shaffer July 3, 195 1 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1895 France June 4,1930

